Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-02-19
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KNEE-BREEeHEs VS.. TROUSERS.
Are We to have Another Craze OF the
Continental Tights.

The movement now on foot in this coun-
try to bring knee-breeches again into gen
eral use, as being more useful, convenient
and democratic article than trousers, is re-
ceiving good deal Of support III Chicago,
where number of progressive and enter
prising men are pledging themselves 10 use
the shorter garment. The convection is I'M
doGbtedly growing that the substitution Of
trousers or pants" for knee-breeches,
which took place some eighty years ago,
was a mistake. The advantages expected
to be derived from the use of trousers have
not, it is said. been realized, or if there
were advantages obtained by their use at
the beginning of the present century, they
are no longer realized now, when so large
a proportion of the people live in cities and
enjoy more settled mode of life. Boys
and youths are now again generally wear
ing the knee breeches they may be said, in
fact never to have wholly abandoned
them, the adaptability of knee breeches to
the varied activities and occupations of the
Young being so obvious as to compel the at
tention of the practical mother. The su-
perior hardness, so TO speak, OF the briefer
neither garment has commended it to ath-
letes, to the votaries of such games as lawn
tennis. and to soldiers The Turkish army,
which wore trousers for a time, has gone
back to, the breeches, and in some other of
the armies of the continent the breeches
have displaced the trousers as the more
serviceable and neater gear. During our
civil war whole regiments were provided
with white canvass leggings which covered
the top of the shoe and came up nearly 10
the knee, conceaiing the legs of the trou-
sers to such an extent that il was felt that
it would be convenience to dispense with
them altogether. Such leggings are of in
creasing popularity, in fact, to day among
our volunteer solGiery for reasons not diff
cult to enumerate. Trousers are frayed out
at the foot and bagged at the knee by rough
or protracted service--injuries to which
knee-breeches are not subject. These are
considerations that appeal TO the economic
and esthetic instincts of the civilian as well
as the soldier. 1t is comparatively easy TO
replace or cleanse pair Of hose, but to re-
place trousers bent at the knee and soiled
and frayed at the bottom by walking I'M
der a dripping sky, through wet grass or
sloppy streets, is a more formidable mat
ter. To put leggings over the trousers
serves a useful purpose, but it distgures
the garment, and is at best but compro-
mise. The logical thing to do is to abolish
the unsightly legs of the trousers. 1t may
be objected, of course, that the wearing of
hose extended up nearly or quite to the
knee would bring into view legs quite as
unsightly, but that is an objection entitled
to no Consideration in matter of so much
practical importance. The trouble Of but
t3ning at the knee has been cited as an
other objection, but it does not seem to be
weighty one. 1t certainly cannot be
pitted against the advantage of having
neither garment that will be exempt from
the misfortunes to which trousers are in
disputably exposed. One may, of course
turn up his pants" in muddy weather,
and there are well-known devices for re-
moving the deformity of bsggy trcpsers,
but these are expedients which are not al
ways at ones command. In point of du-
rability there is no comparison between
trousers and knee breeches. The latter
will last as long as the cloth will hold to-
gether, while the former are exposed 10 all
sorts of accidents that compel their disuse.
For the poor, brooches are beyond question
preferable, as combining the capital points
of convenience, moderate cost, neatness
and durability. 1t is the first step of intro
ducing useful reform that is most diff
cult Should dozen prominent persons
in each walk of life in our great cities
boldly challenge public approval of the old
mode, as the men of Chicago have done,
this particular reform would be in fair
way to immediate success. Spindle shanked
gent emen would, of course, require stuff
fing in their stockings, but that wouldn't
cost much.-BattiDtore Sun.